Sickle jack



p 1952 c. A. MASHEK 3,055,094

SICKLE JACK Filed Jan. 8, 1960 Fig. 2

' Fig. 4

Charles A. Mashek 1N VEN TOR.

M40132. BY ym, 5%

United States Patent 3,055,094 SICKL'E JACK Charles A. Mashek, Chamberlain, S. Dak., assignor to Charles A. Mashek, Roland Will, and Norman Fuegen, all of Reliance, S. Dak., co-partners Filed Jan. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 1,365 2 Claims. (Cl. 29-267) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sickle jacks and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means whereby the usual reciprocating sickle of a mowing machine may be expeditiously and safely removed from the bar and replaced.

Another very important object of the present invention is to provide a tool of the aforementioned character which is adapted to be quickly mounted for use on convention sickle bars and removed therefrom.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a jack of the character described which is readily reversible, whereby the sickle may be removed and replaced without disturbing the tool after it is secured in position on the bar.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a sickle jack or tool of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which Will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, showing a tool embodying the present invention in position for use on a cutter bar;

FIGURE 2 is a View in rear elevation thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the device; and

FIGURE 4 is a detail View in perspective of the reversible pawl.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference character 5 designates generally a conventional reciprocating sickle mounted on a bar 6. The sickle 5 includes a series of knives 7 secured in position by rivets 8.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially U-shaped clamp 9 of suitable metal. The clamp 9 is adapted to be slipped on the bar 6 from the back thereof where said clamp is secured through the medium of a setscrew 10. Formed integrally with the upper end of the clamp 9 is a forwardly and then upwardly extending angular arm 11.

Pivotally secured, as at 12, on the upturned end portion 13 of the arm 11 is a metallic hand lever 14 which is swingable transversely in a vertical plane. Pivotally secured, as at 15, for vertical swinging movement on the lower, front portion of the lever 14 is a reversible pawl 16. The pawl 16 includes a flat bar comprising identical opposite side faces and terminates in a tapered free end portion 17 which is engageable with the rivets 8.

Patented Sept. 25, 1962 It is thought that the use of the tool will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, to remove the sickle 5 from the bar 6, the usual pitman (not shown) is disconnected from said sickle. The clamp 9 is then slipped on the bar 6 and secured by tightening the setscrew 10. The pawl 16 rests by gravity on the sickle 5 and the free end .17 of said pawl is engaged with one of the rivets 8. The lever .14 is then oscillated for sliding the sickle 5 longitudinally off the bar 6 in a step by-step manner. To replace the sickle 5, the pawl '16 is simply reversed as indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 2 of the drawing for pushing said sickle in the opposite direction in an obvious manner.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a tool adapted for use in assembling or disassembling a mower sickle having a horizontal mower bar including a back portion having a rear edge, and a sickle mounted for reciprocation on a front portion of the bar, said tool comprising a jack for manually actuating the sickle in opposite directions, said jack including a horizontal, generally U-shaped clamp mounted on the bar at an intermediate point 'astraddle said back portion thereof, an upwardly angulated arm integral with the uppermost leg of said clamp, a hand lever pivotally mounted for vertical swinging, lateral movement on the arm toward and away from the ends of the sickle, and a pawl pivotally mounted on the front of the lever for swinging movement in a vertical plane intersecting said sickle, said pawl comprising a flat bar including identical opposite side faces and a tapered free end, said pawl being reversible to function on either side of the lever and engageable with the sickle for actuating same in a step-by-step fashion in either direction for removing said sickle from or remounting said sickle on the mower bar upon swinging movement of said lever.

2. A tool in accordance with claim 1, together with means for frictionally securing the clamp on the bar, said means including a setscrew threadedly mounted in said clamp and engagable with said bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 474,176 Mains May 3, 1892 876,817 Logan Jan. '14, 1908 1,345,651 Wilgus July 6, 1920 1,356,978 Graves Oct. 26, 1920 1,925,304 Clark Sept. 5, 1933 2,188,819 Rich Jan. 30, 1940 2,341,578 Stotka 'Feb. 15, 1944 2,741,011 Kuper Apr. 10, 1956 

